do sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances impact the cognitive and behavioural development of children with autism?

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Summary: the primary objective of this study is to undertake a longitudinal investigation of the impact of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances on cognitive and behavioural trajectories in children with autism spectrum disorder (asd) age 3-10 years old. this innovative study will use objective quantifiable measures of sleep and circadian rhythms in addition to subjective measures. the investigators aim to assess the hypotheses that, in pre-pubertal children with asd, 1. sleep disturbances are correlated with circadian rhythm disturbances; 2. both sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are negatively correlated with cognitive performance and positively correlated with behavioural disturbances; 3. sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances, most notably abnormal melatonin secretion, impact the cognitive and behavioural development of children with asd, depending on age (prospective longitudinal analyses).


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * age: from 3 to 8 years of age at inclusion, as per defined entry ages (longitudinal accelerated design) * diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorder (asd) * autism diagnostic interview (adi) - revised (r) score compatible with asd diagnosis * autism diagnostic observation schedule (ados) score compatible with asd diagnosis * study information has been understood * study consent signed by both parents or legal representatives and by the child if the child is capable of expressing his consent * stable medication over the 2 months-period preceding inclusion and during evaluation periods (exception: (1) medication mentioned in the exclusion criteria, (2) a new medication instaurated between two evaluation periods is not in itself an exclusion criteria, but will be taken into account in data analysis) * compliance with study procedures * priori clinical medical examination * child affiliated with social security concerning sleep disorders: the discovery of a primary sleep disorder (e.g.: sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements during sleep) as well as their treatment is not a criteria for terminating the study but will be taken into account in data analysis exclusion criteria: * secondary autism: e.g. associated with rett syndrome, fragile x syndrome, down syndrome, bourneville tuberous sclerosis, von recklinghausen disorder, cytomegalovirus (cmv) encephalitis, congenital rubeola, phenylketonuria. * current treatment with melatonin or melatonin agonists before study entry (before baseline assessment) * changes in medication over the 2 months-period preceding the study (exception: a new medication instaurated between two evaluation periods is not in itself an exclusion criteria, but will be taken into account in data analysis) * transmeridian travel (\> 2 time zones) in the month preceding the study * participation in other research studies in the 3 months period preceding the study * treatment with betablockers, local or systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (nsai) agents, benzodiazepines, antidepressants * severe other intercurrent disorder. * severe allergies.

Keywords: autism autism spectrum disorder asd sleep circadian biological rhythms melatonin cognition behavior longitudinal longitudinal accelerated design